Graduation Year

2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ed.D.

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Degree Granting Department

Curriculum and Instruction

Major Professor

Edward C. Fletcher, Jr., Ph.D.

Co-Major Professor

Victor M. Hernandez-Gantes, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Tonisha B. Lane, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Jennifer R. Wolgemuth, Ph.D.

Keywords

African American males, computer science majors, computer science workforce, two-year college, underrepresented minorities

Abstract

As the field of computer science grows and the computing science workforce demands more qualified workers, the United States workforce will require underrepresented minorities to help meet these demands. African American males are a demographic that can help meet this need but there are few of them pursuing computer science careers and successfully graduating with computer science degrees. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences of African American male two-year college students who are in pursuit of a degree in computer science. My findings indicated that the study participants’ experiences such as positive interactions with faculty and the support and motivation from at least one friend or family member led to their pursuit of a computer science degree. This study also illustrated that some study participants believed that computer science was not an ideal career path for African American males and the lack of Black male influencers in computer science contributes to this belief. However, through their experiences, they learned that it is a field that is not a respecter of persons, especially as it relates to race and ethnicity. The exploration of these students’ experiences aligns with U.S. initiatives to provide skilled and qualified workers for the computer science workforce.

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